𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲:

Deja Vu

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲❅

"Thank you," I briefly said, sliding out of the car past the driver who held my door open.

I've compromised with my dad on taking a chauffeured car instead of an Uber.

But I still drive to work.

Tonight I just didn't feel like finding downtown parking, especially with how busy the ice rink would be.

It's officially been twenty-four hours since Dani kissed me and things feel a little better.

Sort of.

I mean she hasn't brought it up or tried to text me.

And we didn't ride together to the ice rink.

I really need to figure out my game plan here.

Nelli is right—after what Dani did it doesn't matter that I'm currently leading her on.

Which is something I realized I was doing the moment she kissed me.

Even if she deserves it or not—what she did happened years ago, and I'm sure she's grown from it.

I need to be more mindful—maybe even try to friend-zone her so she's not at a loss.

I let out a deep sigh, shaking my head as I tried to push the chaotic thoughts away.

Especially as I approached the ice rink.

And judging by the shiny black G-Wagon parked by the curb lined with cars, I knew she was here.

Given the tags read ᴍᴍᴏʀᴇᴛᴛɪ.

I let out another deep sigh, adjusting my deep brown leather coat lined with tan fur.

I made sure to wear a white long-sleeve shirt under it to keep warm—and then a pair of light jeans.

Which unfortunately had rips in them, so I could possibly get a little cold.

But hopefully not by much, given it's only two rips.

They're really cute so I personally think it was worth wearing them.

I also wore my hair up in a ponytail for once so it wouldn't get in my way, and then I wore my usual light makeup.

"Finally," Nelli said as soon as I walked into the lobby of the large ice rink.

There were numerous sales booths where workers waited to give you skates after purchasing a ticket—but considering tonight's event, I assume no one is paying to get in.

"I just texted you that I was here," I pointed out, amused by her impatience.

"Yeah, but I want to skate—and everyone's already in there," Nelli said as we walked toward the sales booths.

"Everyone?" I clarified, realizing that being ten minutes late did matter.

But my dad said he wasn't planning on getting here for another thirty minutes so I didn't think my lateness was so bad.

"Everyone," Nelli emphasized, which probably meant Dani was already here too.

"So uh..." I trailed off as we stopped by the sales booth, "Hold on," I suddenly told Nelli who now looked skeptical at what I was previously going to say.

But it had to wait until after I got my skates.

Which didn't take but a few moments—they only needed my size.

Then Nelli's attention was right back on me, walking with me past the sales booth toward the ice rink.

"Dani kissed me," I suddenly whispered as we walked through the metal doors.

"She did what?" Nelli said, her voice raising in surprise as her brows naturally shot up.

And her sudden loudness attracted the attention of anyone nearby.

Luckily, they were random groups of people, and no one we knew.

Although, I could easily spot Tahir's blonde hair across the ice rink as he stood off to the side with Alena standing close beside him and Ronan to his other side.

Nadia seemed to be standing with him as well—along with Mazin and of course, Dove.

I figured she would be here, I was just hoping to be proven wrong.

"Hello? Vee?" Nelli said, snapping my attention away from them—just as I noticed Lena and Tazmin approaching them with disposable paper cups in their hands, "Did you kiss her back?"

I pursed my lips, "Technically yes, but I kind of just froze," I tried to explain as I walked with Nelli over to the rows of benches.

Where she seemed to have left her skates.

"It's getting messy," Nelli said as she slid her Nike's off, "Like it was already messy but this..." she trailed off, shaking her head a few times.

"I know-I know," I said, already aware that I needed to fix this.

"I tried to tell you," Nelli said, shaking her head as she slipped one of her skates on, "And I feel like..." she suddenly trailed off, naturally glancing over at her presence that neared us, "Great," she mumbled, lacing up her skates.

I awkwardly pursed my lips as Dani stopped in front of us, "Hey," I said to her, slipping on one of my skates that I began lacing up.

"Hey," Dani said, smiling slightly, "Did you need any help?"

I shook my head, "No, I've laced these before," I said, which was one hundred percent a lie.

It had been years since I had ice skated, and even then she would always lace them up for me.

Dani can't lace my skates.

I just... that's not something I want her to do.

"I'm going to... go catch up with everyone," Nelli said, clearly trying to rush away from Dani who she refused to even glance at.

"I'll see you later," I told Nelli as she stood up, slipping her Nike's back on as she headed toward where everyone was across the rink. 

Marie and Vic seemed to be over there with them all now, along with Mav and Jada. 

I forced a smile when Dani sat down next to me, pretending to know what I was doing as I looped the shoelace around the metal hooks.

"This is a cute vibe," Dani said, glancing around the ice rink.

Which was only illuminated by the lights on the ice that were purple-hued—there were also soft Christmas lights outlining the walls.

It was a really cute setup.

"I like it," I said as I continued pretending like I wasn't fucking struggling.

But my actions quickly halted as soon as I unconsciously glanced to them again—noticing Mazin backing away from them all.

Which made me draw in a deep breath, contemplating the most absurd fucking thing.

But I didn't plan on going through with it.

Following her would be fucking weird.

"Vee?" Dani said, quickly snapping me out of my thoughts.

I blinked a few times, "I um," I quickly forced out, glancing back over to Dani, "I think I want to use the bathroom before I put my skates on," I suddenly determined, internally screaming at myself for the decision I just made.

But at least it would get me away from Dani for a moment and these skates that I can't lace up to save my life.

Hopefully, by the time I go to the bathroom and come back—Dani will be on the ice and I can lace these up in private.

And maybe Mazin won't be in the bathroom, which would be a good thing.

I think?

No.

I know it would be a good thing.

"Okay, maybe I'll go grab us some hot chocolate over at the concession stands," Dani suddenly suggested.

I nodded at the idea, "Sounds perfect," I said, slipping the skate off to pull my other boot back on.

And once I had it zipped back up, I stood from the bench with Dani—who walked toward the concessions where everyone seemed to be while I walked in the other direction toward the bathrooms.

My heart naturally fucking pounded in my chest as I walked past the different benches where some people lingered—growing closer and closer to the bathrooms.

Where a part of me knew she would be.

Fuck.

I let out a deep sigh as soon as I rounded the corner, eyeing the bathroom sign for a brief moment.

Until I finally walked past it, heading into the women's bathroom.

Which was a little more dated with white sinks, small mirrors lined with dim lights, and tacky pink tile on the wall while black and white tile lined the floors.

It was hard to miss her presence over by the sinks that she leaned back against, holding her phone to her ear as she kept her voice lowered.

Her blonde hair was down, and precisely straightened with a natural amount of makeup emphasizing her features.

She wore a dark coat with black jeans and matching high-heeled boots—accessorized in her usual tennis necklaces and bracelets with an Audemars Piguet watch on her wrist.

"I want more eyes by the docks," Mazin said, her dark eyes immediately darting to me as I walked further into the bathroom.

And it was hard to ignore her eyes that openly roamed my appearance. 

Until she seemed to glance up, meeting my stare entirely. 

"Just keep me updated, I have to go," she suddenly told whoever was on the other end.

And I could easily tell it was a call relating to... business.

Illegal business that is, considering she mentioned something about the docks.

They're probably still trying to uncover the emerging gang.

Something I realized they left me out of the loop on, which felt almost purposeful.

"Now it's you who's following me," Mazin spoke to me first as I stood at the sink further down from her.

"I just came in here to use the bathroom," I said, backing away from the sink toward the stalls.

Because now I'm fucking regretting my decision.

"Then use the bathroom," Mazin said, noticing my awkwardly stalled actions as I walked to the stall.

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Well, now I don't want to because you told me to," I quickly mumbled the excuse, walking back over to the sink.

And I knew the excuse sounded fucking stupid.

And childish.

Yet it seemed to visibly amuse Mazin.

"What is it, Virelai?" she said, knowing I didn't come in here just to use the bathroom.

But even I didn't know what I came in here for.

"Nothing really," I said, even if it felt like I wanted to say something.

I just didn't know what.

What the fuck am I doing?

"Okay then," Mazin said as she leaned away from the sink, "I'm walking out of that door if it's just nothing."

I shrugged, "Sounds good to me," I mumbled, which weirdly made Mazin purse her lips into an amused smile.

I genuinely don't understand what is so fucking entertaining to her.

I suddenly glanced over to the mirror, watching as Mazin walked away from the sink and toward the door.

Which annoyingly made my face burn, suddenly wanting to say something.

Anything.

"Have fun skating with Dove," I said before I could fucking think it through.

I really could've said anything but that.

Mazin halted her steps, nodding once to herself as she turned back around to face me, "She doesn't know how to skate," she said, her dark eyes openly meeting mine in the mirror.

"That's a shame," I murmured, even if it wasn't a shame at all to me.

A small part of me liked the idea of Dove not being able to skate with her.

But I would never say that aloud.

"And it's a shame I'm a good teacher," Mazin said, taking a few steps toward me, "I'm sure you recall?"

I immediately shook my head, "Not at all," I lied, even if I did recall it.

I recalled every detail of it.

Specifically how many times we fell on the ice, laughing uncontrollably as Tahir recorded us each time—and Omara made a funny edit of it all.

"We were thirteen... fourteen maybe," Mazin said, taking another step toward me.

"Doesn't ring a bell," I still decided to say, sticking with my unnecessary lie.

Because it's not even something worth lying about.

I clenched my jaw as soon as she took another step toward me, stopping directly behind me.

Her soft cologne quickly filtered in around me, holding her dark eyes as she suddenly lifted her hands—

To my waist.

Which immediately made me draw in the deepest fucking breath of my life, gripping the cold sink in front of me.

"I had you like this," Mazin whispered, never once glancing away from my eyes through the mirror.

"Your hands were much higher," I emphasized, my voice annoyingly weak against my own wishes.

"Were they?" Mazin said, drawing her hands up the sides of my waist, which easily made a rough fire burn down my body.

Especially when she slid her hands back down to my lower waist where they previously were.

"I think I prefer them here," she murmured, eyeing my face through the mirror.

And it felt like my face was physically burning under her stare—especially with her hands gripping my waist firmly in place.

I drew in a deeper breath as soon as she pressed the front of her body to mine, leaning into me entirely.

"Mazin," I said almost in warning, given I felt fucking paralyzed on the spot.

She just feels really warm.

Her hands feel really warm.

And I just... can't pull away.

I don't want to pull away.

A deep sigh fell from my lips when she leaned down slightly—resting her head against the side of mine as she held me even closer to her.

All I could do was relax into her touch entirely, briefly closing my eyes for a moment.

At least until she slid her hands past my waist, leaving me cold and weirdly disappointed.

Until she gently ran her hands over mine resting on the sink, physically making my heart speed up in my chest.

Especially when she slid her fingers under mine, loosening my tight grip on the sink one finger at a time before guiding our hands away from it entirely.

I clenched my jaw when she placed our hands on my waist, desperately trying to find the strength to lean away from her right now.

But fuck was it hard.

It's so fucking hard.

"Dani and I kissed," I quickly said before I could think it through, knowing it would make Mazin back away from me.

But it didn't.

Instead, all she did was weirdly stall her actions, growing physically stiff behind me.

Until she sighed, very deeply, pulling me back even closer to her.

"Don't kiss her again," was all she said, even if I knew she was more than irritated by my words, I could hear it in her tone.

Which was lowered and tighter than before.

"Anyone but her," Mazin clarified, sliding her hands up to my wrists that she gently squeezed, "Or maybe no one at all." 

I shook my head, easily feeling sucked back in so easily by her words and actions.

It was probably Mazin's greatest strength.

Especially since she's always been big on physical touch.

She pulls you in with how she chooses to touch you—or even speak to you.

She also has this way with words... it's almost concerning. 

I suddenly shook my head, "I should go," I said, pulling my hands away from hers, "I shouldn't have even come in here to begin with."

Mazin instinctively took a step back from me when I leaned away, giving me the space she knew I wanted. 

"I'm ready to talk when you are," Mazin said, sliding her hands into her coat pockets.

"I'm not even sure if I'll ever be ready to talk to you, Mazin," I said, and I had never been more fucking honest in my life.

I could tell she picked up on my honesty as I walked past her, noticing how she glanced away from me.

Maybe Nelli is right.

Maybe this is all so hard with her for certain reasons.

And talking with her could make those reasons grow worse.

And more importantly, not fully reciprocated.

Mazin can be touchy, she can be determined to talk to me—but it's not anything she hasn't done before.

It doesn't mean anything to her.

"Everything good?" Dani said as I approached her at the benches.

Where she now had two hot chocolates sitting and even a plate of funnel cake.

"Yes, everything's fine," I quickly said as I sat down with her, trying to forget what just happened with Mazin in that bathroom.

"Are you sure? You seem a little flushed," Dani said as she eyed my face in concern.

I shook my head, "I'm just hot in this coat," I said, quickly unzipping it and sliding it off, which somewhat relieved the heat overwhelming my body, "And I'm also... nervous kind of."

Dani tilted her head, "Nervous?" she clarified, furrowing her brows.

"Yes, I just... after last night at the lights I've been thinking we should dial it back by a lot," I admitted, rushing the words out almost too quickly, "You know maybe we could..." I trailed off as soon as Dani glanced past me.

To Mazin.

Who walked out of the bathroom.

Only a few moments after me, briefly glancing over to me and Dani as she walked back to where everyone was.

"You were in there with her?" Dani clarified, clearly bothered by how this looked.

Especially because Mazin didn't leave at the same time as me, so it looks like she waited.

Like we had planned to leave at separate times.

"Very briefly," I said, unsure of how to navigate this conversation with Dani.

Because it's giving me deja vu.

"Briefly?" Dani repeated back to me with furrowed brows, "What does briefly entail, Vee?"

I blinked a few times, "Just briefly like we—"

"Is this why you suddenly want to dial it back?" Dani asked me, unconsciously making my heart quicken in my chest, "It's her again?"

I rapidly shook my head, "No, no—"

"We're fucking doing this all over again," she cut me short yet again before I could find the right words, forcing my heart to quicken even more in my chest, "History clearly repeats itself."

I drew in a deep breath, clasping my hands together when they began to tremble slightly.

I'm really not good at confrontation. 

"Dani, please stop," I forced out in a whisper, blinking a few more times as I strictly stared forward, trying to push away my sudden anxiety with her.

Focus on the coldness of the bench.

Or the soft Christmas music playing.

Maybe I should even tap my foot.

"I'm sorry," Dani suddenly said to me, attempting to grab my hands in my lap.

But I flinched away before she could—shooting up from the bench at an alarming rate.

And I could easily feel her eyes on me from across the room—along with Tahir's.

But I chose to meet Nelli's stare instead, feeling my chest rise and fall with each breath as I focused on my best friend.

Who instinctively backed away from them all to walk over to me—noticing the onset of my embarrassing panic.

I can't be around Dani like this.

Not with the past contributing to my anxiety.

A past that does seem to be repeating itself.

"Vee," Dani said as soon as I turned around, quickly walking off from her as I grabbed my jacket.

And luckily she didn't follow me.

Luckily, the only person who followed me was the one who I genuinely needed right now.

Not Dani.

Not Mazin.

Not anyone from my built-up past.

But instead, my best friend—who walked us both outside, helping me pace my breathing and calm me down.

She even insisted on leaving with me, driving us both back to my apartment instead of letting me take the chauffeured car alone.

I think I genuinely need a step back from Dani.

And maybe even Mazin too.

Maybe I just need to be away from them both, considering how much this all stresses me out.

A part of this is my fault—I shouldn't have gone with Dani last night.

And I shouldn't have gone to that bathroom.

And maybe, I shouldn't have come back to Miami at all.